Tapping into conflicts

Instinctively, many of us fear conflict like a plague. This fear is justifiable when we think of the consequences of most of the conflicts we have been involved. Conflict is powerful and triggers emotions- mostly negative emotions. In its wake, it leaves relationships destroyed without repair eroding trust and preventing future cooperation.

However, conflict isn’t always a bad thing. The innovations, creativities, and progresses we have experienced since the beginning of our civilization were possible because of the manifestation of conflicts of ideas, approaches, and ways of thinking. We wouldn’t have enjoyed the advancements in our organizations, communities, and nations without conflicts.

The chance of conflicts handled well resulting healthy competition is high. Competition leads to quality, lower price, convenience, etc. When two companies enter into ‘conflict’ to win the local market, the customers benefit in the form of improved and affordable products and services. When team members’ ideas clash, the team gets exposed to better and multiple options, and the chance to choose the best ideas.

Unfortunately, if conflicts are mismanaged or left unmanaged, they lead to dysfunctional teams. Many organizations suffer due to their people’s inability to tap into conflicts and turning them into opportunities. Numerous teams, as we speak, are stranded due to internal and external conflicts; most importantly, because of lack of a soft skill to turn the conflicts into opportunities. No one is born with conflict management skill. It’s something we all can develop, refine, and master.

Assegid (AZ) Habtewold is the owner and lead trainer at Success Pathways, LLC. He facilitates Conflict Management workshops. Here is the link to learn the learning objectives of our Conflict Management workshop: http://successpws.com/?page_id=1489